Arrow head



Sept. 22, 1959 E. H. HOYT, JR

ARROW HEAD Filed April 1 1957 United *tes ice ARROW HEAD Earl H. Hoyt, Jr., Bridgeton, Mo.

Application April 1, 1957, Serial No. 649,947

9 Claims. (Cl. 273-1065) This invention relates to archery equipment and particularly to arrow heads adapted to small game hunting.

Experience in hunting small game animals with bow and arrows teaches that those instances in which the small game animal escapes after being wounded occur most frequently as the result of either complete penetration or insutlicient penetration. When complete penetration occurs much of the kinetic energy of the arrow is wasted, particularly at close ranges, and without the encumberance of the arrow, the wounded small animal can escape much more readily. In cases of insufiicient or no penetration at somewhat longer ranges, the arrow either ricochets off after striking and injuring the animal or it is quickly dislodged and the wounded animal is again free to escape.

Further experience has conclusively proved that the loss of injured small game can be greatly reduced by the provision of an arrow head which will function effectively to deter penetration and deliver substantially all of the energy of the arrow at the highest arrow velocities and, on the other hand, promote penetration at lower arrow velocities. The use of blunt end arrow heads to reduce penetration and increase impact is well known, but when the diameter of the blunt end of this type of arrow head is increased sufliciently so as to efiectively prevent complete penetration of small game, such as rabbits, at close range with the usual forty to fifty pound pull hunting how, it is rendered incapable of sufficient penetration to retain the arrow in the animal at somewhat longer ranges, which somewhat longer ranges are well Within the limit of highly probable hits by the average bow hunter.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a generally new and improved small game arrow head having an enlarged flat forward surface for retarding penetration of small game at short ranges and having a piercing element projecting centrally from said flat surface for initiating penetration at longer ranges.

It is a further object to provide a small game arrow head having a short, cylindrical portion at the forward end of the shaft-receiving shank which is considerably larger in diameter than the shank and is tapered forwardly so as to provide thereon an acute, sharp, rear edge to deter extraction.

It is a further object to provide a sharp-pointed small game arrow head having a large flat surface rearward of the point which is of sufiicient area and sufliciently close to the point to cause the arrow to rebound and completely disengage the arrow when the arrow strikes a tree limb.

A further object is to provide a small game arrow head which is particularly effective, of rugged construction, and simple and economical to manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an arrow head constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown attached to a portion of an arrow shaft;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan View of the arrow head shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the arrow head shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the arrow head shown rotated from the position shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the arrow head shown in Figs. 1 to 4; and

Figs. 6, 7, and 8, are, respectively, top plan, elevational and longitudinal cross-sectional views of a modified form of the arrow head shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 showing the first form of the invention, the arrow head comprises a round, tapered, hollow shank portion 10 provided with a tapered bore 12 to receive the tapered end of an arrow shaft, a flat, circular head 14 with its edge beveled 45 as indicated at 16, and a fiat, triangular cutting blade 18 arranged on the diameter of the head 14. The forward surface of the head 14 is provided with a narrow milled slot 20 extend ing thereacross on its diameter, which slot receives one side of the triangular blade. The shank 10 and blade 18 are preferably constructed of steel, and the blade 18 is rigidly fastened in the slot 20 by soldering or copper brazing. The forward facing exposed sides of triangular blade 18 are beveled, as at 22, to provide a cutting edge. In this arrangement, the shank 10 and head 14 are formed as a one piece screw machine part.

In another contemplated form of construction, the entire arrow head is formed from a single piece of stock by first turning the shank and head portions and boring the shank, and then forming the blade by milling. In this method of construction, the material would preferably be a steel which can be heat treated to obtain a relatively hard blade. The shank 10, head 14, and blade 18 may, of course, be constructed of any suitable material, and the blade may be fastened in the head in any suitable manner.

While I prefer to use the conventional 5 tapered bore to receive the tapered end of an arrow shaft and correspondingly taper the shank 10 to reduce weight, a straight shank with a straight bore 12 may be used. Also, the exposed cutting edges of the blade 18 may have any suitable contour. For example, they may be concave or they may be convex so as to form, together with the lower inserted flat side, a semi-circle.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, a round tapered point 24 is substituted for the blade 18, which point is formed as an integral part of the shank 10a, as indicated in Fig. 8. Also, in this arrangement, the flat circular head 14a is formed as a separate perforated stamping which is fitted over the base of the point and copper brazed at 26 to a head 28 formed on the shank portion 10a, as indicated, thereby permitting the use of smaller diameter stock from which to turn the shank. The entire arrow head shown in Figs. 6 to 8 may, of course, be formed on a screw machine from a single piece of stock.

The provision of the centrally protruding point 24 or the blade 18 permits the use of a much larger diameter, flat, shocking surface to absorb the arrows energy at short ranges, while insuring a penetration at longer ranges which would not be achieved in their absence. A further particular advantage gained by making the diameter of the flat head elements 14 and 14a considerably larger than the shank, and by beveling their forward edges so as to provide a pronounced shoulder, is that the arrow is rendered much more ditlicult to dislodge and is therefore more likely to be retained until the animal can be recovered. To this end the .under surface of the head is also flat so as to provide an abrupt shoulder 30 which functions in the manner of a barb.

In the drawing the blade 18 and the point 24 are shown projecting from the flat head surface a distance of onehalf the diameter of the head. T oextend the perpendicular height of. these elements beyond this would possibly increase the effectiveness of the arrow head somewhat with respect to initiating penetration,.and would probably further reduce the tendency of the arrow to ricoch'et'but, on the other hand, a point would soon be reached wherein the arrow head would be much more likely to be rendered useless if it inadvertently encountered a stone or similarly hard material, and, moreover, a point would soon be reached wherein the arrow would stickin a tree limb out of reach if the quarry happened to be a squirreL To reduce the perpendicular height of .the point or blade below one-half the diameter .of the flat head surface would rapidly reduce the efliectiveness of the .arrow head from the standpoint of penetration. ,I have found that by providing a point or blade which projects perpendicularly from the head a distance of one-half to three-quarters of the diameter of the head, I can construct a rugged arrow head which has the desired penetration, freedom from ricochet, and rebound from wood.

The relationship of the diameter of the head to the shank may be varied to suit conditions. Everything else being equal, thehunter using a very heavy draw how would need a larger diameter head than .a hunter using a light draw bow to insure that the full energy of his arrow is absorbed. In any event, the diameter of the head will be larger than the arrow shaft and the shank of the arrow head.

While the modification shown in Figs. 6 to .8 is somewhat more economical to manufacture, the modification shown in Figs. 1 to is particularly efiective in .attaining penetration at lower arrow velocities on the thicker and tougher-skinned small game animals. This is so because the blade 18 provides .a continuous slit extending substantially the diameter of the head 14, which in yielding materialsuch as animal tissue permits the easy entry .of the enlarged, beveled .edge head. To carry this principle further a pair of thin blades such as 185 could, of course, be used and arranged .on perpendicular diameters of the head 14, but this increases the cost of the arrow head considerably and at this time it does :not appear that the advantage gained over a single blade ijustifie's the increased cost.

The foregoing description .and drawing is intended :to tie-illustrative and not limiting, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

.1. .A hunting :arrow head for small game animals .comprising a tapered shank portion tapering from a larger diameter mearlits rear .end to a smaller diameter .at :its forward end, a longitudinal :tapered bore in said shank opening at its rear end for receiving the tapered end .ofan arrow shaft, .a flat circular :head portion at the forward end .of said shank :portion of larger diameter than .-the largest diameter of said tapered shank-portion, thereby to form arelatively .wide shoulder at 1116 forward end .of said shank, the side of said .fiat, circular head portion being beveled so as to form an acute, sharp, rear .edge thereon, and a :flat cutting blade arranged on :the .diam eter of said fiat circular head portionand extending perpendicularly from the forward face :thereof.

2. ,A hunting arrow head for smallgame animals comprising a hollow shank portion open at its rearend toreceive the .endof-an arrow shaft, a flat, circularhead portionatthe forwardendof said shank portion .of larger diameter than said shank portion, whereby vasshoulder is formed at the forward endof said shank portion, and the side of said flat, circular head portion being beveled so as to form on the head portion an acute sharp rear edge, anda sharp-pointed piercing element projecting perpendicularly from 'the' forward face of said fiat, circular head portion an amount not greater than three-quarters of the diameter of said head portion.

3. A hunting arrow head for small game animals comprising a hollow shank portion open at its rear end for receiving the end of an arrow shaft, a flat circular head portion at the forward end of said shank portion and of larger diameter than said shank portion for retarding penetration of an arrow at close range, the side of said flat, circular head portion being beveled so as to form an acute, sharp, rear edge, and a flat cutting lade arranged on the diameter of said flat forward surface and extending perpendicularly forward therefrom for providing a slit for the entry of said enlarged head portion.

4. A hunting arrow head for small game animals comprising a hollow shank portion open at its rear end for receiving the end of an arrow shaft, a flat circular head portion at the forward end of said shank portion and of larger diameter than said shank portion, the side of said headportion being beveled so as to form an acute, sharp, rear edge thereon, and said head portion having a diametral slot milled in the forward surface thereof, anda flat, triangular cutting blade having one side thereof insorted into said slot and fixed therein and projecting perpendicularly from said forward surface to an apex.

5. A hunting arrow head for small game animals comprising a hollow shank portion open at its rear end for receiving the end of an arrow shaft, a flat circular head at the forward end of said shank portion of larger diameter than said shank portion, whereby a shoulder is formed at the forward end of said shank portion, a flat cutting blade of equilateral triangular shape fixed to said head and having one side thereof extending diametrically across the forward face of said head and projecting perpendicularly forward therefrom, and the side of said flat circular head being beveled at a 45 angle thereby to form on the head portion an acute sharp rear edge.

6. A hunting arrow head for small game animals comprising a hollow shank portion open at its rear end to receive the end of an arrow shaft, a fiat, circular head-portion at the forward end of said shankportion of larger diameter than said shank portion to reduce penetration at high arrow velocities and thereby to form a shoulder at the forward end of said shank portion, and the side of said flat, circular head portion being beveled so as to form on the head portion an acute, sharp, rear edge to deter extraction of the arrow, and a sharp-pointed piercing element projecting perpendicularly from the forward face of said fiat, circular head portion for initiating pene- .tration of the arrow head at low arrow velocities.

7. A hunting arrow head for small game animals .comprising a round, elongated, hollow shank portionpsaid shank portion being open at its rear .end to receive the end of anlarrow shaft and being closed and having :a sfl'at, transverse surface at its forward .end, a round, tapered piercing .element projecting forwardly from said flat, forward shank surface for initiating penetration of the arrow head at .low arrow velocities, said tapered piercing element having a base diameter adjacent said ,flat, iforward shank surface and being tapered forwardly therefrom to a point, and a centrally perforated disc element .of greater diameter than said shank portion ,fitted over-the base-of said piercing element and lying against said ,flat,

forward shank surface for reducing penetration .of the arrow head at high arrow velocities and to provide a shoulder at the forward end of said shank portion, and said disc element being rigidly attached to said'shank portion and having the side :thereof beveled sons .to form thereonanacute, sharp rear edge, to vdeter extraction of the arrow.

8. A hunting .arrow head for ,smallgame animals formed .as ,a unitary screw machine product and comprising a hollow shank portion open at its rear end to receive the end of an arrow shaft, a flat, circulanhfiadfi rlion of .greater diameter than said shank portion formed at the forward end of said shank portion to reduce penetration of the arrow head at high arrow velocities and to provide a shoulder at the forward end of said shank portion, the side of said flat, circular head portion being beveled so as to form an acute, sharp rear edge thereon, to deter extraction of the arrow, and a round, tapered piercing element projecting forwardly from said circular head for initiating penetration at low arrow velocities, said piercing element having a base adjacent the forward surface of said circular head which is smaller in diameter than the diameter of said circular head and being tapered forwardly therefrom to a point.

9. A hunting arrow head for small game animals comprising a hollow shank portion open at its rear end for receiving the end of an arrow shaft, a flat circular head portion at the forward end of said shank portion and of larger diameter than said shank portion for retarding penetration at close range, the forward edge of said head portion being beveled, and a flat cutting blade extending substantially across said flat circular head portion on the diameter thereof and projecting perpendicularly from the forward face thereof, thereby to provide a slit upon impact to facilitate the entry of said enlarged head portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,671,664 Zwickey Mar. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 581,311 Great Britain Oct. 8, 1946 

